Quote

People always think that history proceeds in a straight line. It doesn't. Social attitudes don't change in a straight line. There's always a backlash against progressive ideas.

Erica Jong

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Erica Jong
Age: 82
Born: 1942
Born: March 26
Author
Feminist
Novelist
Poet
Writer
New York City
New York
Erica Mann Jong
Thinking
Lines
People
History
Backlash
Social
Proceeds
Doesn
Attitudes
Change
Progressive
Ideas
Straight
Always
Line
Think
Attitude

More quotes by Erica Jong

Image
perfectionism is the enemy of art. Since art is essentially divine play, not dogged work, it often happens that as one becomes more professionally driven one also becomes less capriciously playful.
Erica Jong
Image
My generation had Doris Day as a role model, then Gloria Steinem--then Princess Diana. We are the most confused generation.
Erica Jong
Image
In a bad marriage, friends are the invisible glue. If we have enough friends, we may go on for years, intending to leave, talking about leaving -instead of actually getting up and leaving.
Erica Jong
Image
Do you want me to tell you something really subversive? Love is everything it's cracked up to be. That's why people are so cynical about it. It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for. And the trouble is, if you don't risk anything, you risk even more.
Erica Jong
Image
In a way women are fleshier because of estrogen. It's hard for us to lose weight because when we get super skinny we don't ovulate. Women in camps during the Holocaust didn't menstruate and didn't ovulate. They were starving they were terrified. Why emulate that condition? It's nonsensical to me.
Erica Jong
Image
I went for years not finishing anything. Because, of course, when you finish something you can be judged...I had poems which were re-written so many times I suspect it was just a way of avoiding sending them out.
Erica Jong
Image
A Soul is partly given, partly wrought remember always that you are the Maker of your own Soul.
Erica Jong
Image
The soul is awakened through service.
Erica Jong
Image
I am not quite sure how writing changes things, but I know that it does. It is indirect-like the trails of earthworms aerating the earth. It is not always deliberate-like the tails of glowing dust dragged by comets.
Erica Jong
Image
There is a rhythm to the ending of a marriage just like the rhythm of a courtship, only backward.
Erica Jong
Image
Why do analysts always answer a question with a question?
Erica Jong
Image
My grandchildren are fabulous and funny.
Erica Jong
Image
That was probably the mistake of my generation, that we thought that having sex with anyone would be intimate and it wasn't.
Erica Jong
Image
Despite all the cynical things writers have said about writing for money, the truth is we write for love. That is why it is so easy to exploit us.
Erica Jong
Image
The trick is not how much pain you feel--but how much joy you feel. Any idiot can feel pain. Life is full of excuses to feel pain, excuses not to live, excuses, excuses, excuses.
Erica Jong
Image
Jealousy is all the fun you think they had.
Erica Jong
Image
I never became a writer for the money. I am a poet first. Even getting published is a miracle for poets.
Erica Jong
Image
I think the Jews are an amazing group of people and their survival is amazing.
Erica Jong
Image
Courage is the only Magic worth having.
Erica Jong
Image
When everyone thinks they know you, it's hard not to be guarded.
Erica Jong